Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 41 - Chapitre 50

EmilyThe days were passing quickly. Marcos was helping me restore Mom’s flower bed. After finally getting my dad’s approval, we started working on it the day he slept over, and we hadn’t stopped since. Every morning, he crossed town to tend the garden with me.Despite my reluctance about disrupting his work, he kept coming. Not that I was complaining—I loved spending every minute with him. We were truly making new memories.This helped my dad take a new step. He was now driving to the next town every day for his treatment. He only let me go with him for two days, for family bonding. Otherwise, it was just him, the old truck, and the road.Though I was nervous at first, I knew I couldn’t watch him twenty-four hours a day. The doctor assured me that giving him trust would motivate him to keep working toward rebuilding his life.So, Marcos and I made the most of the empty house. Judge me, but that sweaty, dirt-covered man was pure fire—only outdone when he was in his mechanic’s coverall

EmilyThe night passed torturously. Even though I went to bed peacefully, with a joyful heart, the nightmares were there to make me suffer.I was alone again, looking around, seeing no one. Then, suddenly, I held a dead baby in my arms, blood everywhere—on my hands, my dress, the floor. No matter what I did, the baby wouldn’t come back, and no one appeared to help me.I woke up crying, my heart pounding a million miles an hour. They were back.I forced myself to lie back down, trying to calm myself. I stared at the walls of my room, surrounded by good memories—memories I now knew were entirely true, not just an act by a guy trying to get me into bed.But even so, they brought no comfort, because tracing each one led to the same outcome: me losing my child at a bus station.I took a deep breath and tried to focus on the good things. Everything I’d gained since coming back to São Fernando: I learned the truth about what Marcos did, helped my dad, reconnected with old friends, made new o

Emily“Hey!” Fábio shouted, and suddenly, cold water splashed us.He aimed the hose right at us, forcing us apart. I ran to him, and as soon as I grabbed the hose, Sara appeared, ready for work. Marcos would drive her—we weren’t taking any chances—and I’d pick her up at the end of her shift, though she didn’t know that part yet.“So, ready to start?” my dad asked, appearing in an old gardening jumpsuit he used to wear just to annoy Mom.I smiled—he’d bought it solely to get under her skin.We planted the flower seedlings Marcos and I had bought, and at Fábio’s insistence and Dad’s soft spot, we set aside a little spot for “Fá’s veggies,” as he called it, where he planted some carrots.It didn’t take long for Fábio to fall asleep after a bath and a snack. We’d skipped lunch by mistake, but no one seemed to care. Dad was thrilled with his new apprentice, looking like a proud grandpa, and Fábio was ecstatic with all the attention.“Going out?” Dad asked, poking his head into my room.I’d

EmilyWe took the road home, and the more I thought about what she’d said, the faster my heart pumped, leaving me in a terrible state.My dad was going through a tough time—she didn’t know him or what he’d been through. I knew that wasn’t an excuse for bad decisions, but I understood him. It took me a while to realize he was in a situation so similar to mine five years ago, but now that I finally got it, I wouldn’t let anyone diminish him. He was fighting—had been fighting since Mom got sick. Both he and I made the worst choices in our moments of struggle, and we’d have to live with the consequences for the rest of our lives. But I wasn’t going to sit by and watch people crucify him.“Emily, you okay?” Marcos asked, pulling me out of my deep thoughts. “You’re muttering to yourself,” he said with a smile. We’d already stopped, and I hadn’t even noticed.“I’m not crazy, if that’s what you’re thinking,” I mumbled, making him grin wider, which suddenly eased my heart.I unbuckled my seatb

Emily“Emily, there are people around,” Marcos scolded, like last night, making me huff in frustration. “Let’s go home, just the two of us,” he whispered in my ear, igniting my desire.We weren’t going home. Not now.I disentangled myself from him and started walking out of the water, expecting him to follow. His face was a mix of frustration and longing. I smirked, knowing we’d soon satisfy our wild urges.“The truck’s the other way,” he shouted after me. “Unless you’re planning to do it in the bushes.” I laughed loudly and ran faster through the trees as I spotted the cabin.“You’re quite the pervert, Mr. Marcos.”That was all I managed to say before turning the key in the lock, as Marcos’ body crashed into mine, pinning me against the wall.“Say it again,” he whispered, nibbling my earlobe, making me gasp.“Pervert?” He growled a no and pulled back slightly. “Mr. Marcos.”He brushed my hair aside, gripping it at my nape to hold me still, then began kissing my skin, leaving it sensi